Ozothamnus plant named ‘40-24’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Ozothamnus  plant named ‘40-24’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; short internodes; dense and bushy habit; freely flowering habit; and inflorescences arranged in corymbs with pink-colored involucral bracts.

Botanical designation: Ozothamnus diosmifolius.

Cultivar denomination: ‘40-24’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOzothamnus plant, botanically known as Ozothamnus diosmifolius, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘40-24’.

The new Ozothamnus is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of aproprietary selection of Ozothamnus diosmifolius identified as codenumber 1366, not patented. The new Ozothamnus was discovered andselected by the Inventors in a controlled environment in Helidon,Queensland, Australia in September, 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ozothamnus by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled environment in Helidon, Queensland, Australia since 1999, hasshown that the unique features of this new Ozothamnus are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar 40-24 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘40-24’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘40-24’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofOzothamnus:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Short internodes; dense and bushy habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Inflorescences arranged in corymbs with pink-colored        involucral bracts.

Plants of the new Ozothamnus differ from plants of the parent selectionin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ozothamnus are shorter than plants of the        parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Ozothamnus flower earlier than plants of        the parent selection.

Plants of the new Ozothamnus can be compared to plants of the Ozothamnuscultivar Just Blush, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Helidon, Queensland, Australia, plants of the new Ozothamnus differedfrom plants of the cultivar Just Blush in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ozothamnus were more rounded than plants of        the cultivar Just Blush.    -   2. Corymbs of plants of the new Ozothamnus were larger than        corymbs of plants of the cultivar Just Blush.    -   3. Plants of the new Ozothamnus had darker pink-colored        involucral bracts than plants of the cultivar Just Blush.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Ozothamnus. The photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Ozothamnus.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘40-24’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalcorymb of ‘40-24’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Bonsall, Calif. during the autumn in an outdoor nursery andunder conditions and practices which approximate those generally used incommercial Ozothamnus production. During the production of the plants,day temperatures ranged from about 18° C. to 38° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 13° C. to 24° C. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants wereabout five months old when the photographs and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Ozothamnus diosmifolius cultivar 40-24.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of a proprietary    selection of Ozothamnus diosmifolius identified as code number 1366,    not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two to three weeks.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About six to            eight weeks.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.

    -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   Plant form/growth habit.—Upright plant habit; inverted triangle.        Vigorous growth habit. Short internodes; dense and bushy habit.        Freely branching habit with about five to six lateral branches        per plant with numerous secondary and tertiary lateral branches.    -   Plant height.—About 72 cm.    -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 56 cm.    -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 57 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.        Internode length: About 5 cm. Aspect: Upright to somewhat        outwardly spreading. Strength: Strong. Texture, developing:        Pubescent. Texture, mature: Woody. Color, developing: 148B.        Color, mature: 177A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate to whorled; simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 1 mm.        -   Shape.—Acicular.        -   Apex.—Mucronate.        -   Base.—Attenuate, clasping.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Rough, granular.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Single midvein.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 146A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 146B. Fully expanded foliage, upper            surface: 147A; venation, 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower            surface: 147B; venation, 147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Composite inflorescence form without ray            florets; inflorescences arranged in terminal and axillary            corymbs; corymbs hemispherical. Inflorescences face upright            to outward. Freely flowering habit; about 42 inflorescences            and inflorescence buds per corymb. Inflorescences            persistent. Inflorescences not fragrant.        -   Time to flower.—Under mild weather conditions, plants will            flower year-round in Southern California. Inflorescences            last about three to four weeks on the plant.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Rounded. Color: 61B to 61C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 2.7 cm to 4.6 cm. Depth            (height): About 3.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 3 mm.            Receptacle diameter: About 4 mm. Receptacle height: About 4            mm to 5 mm.        -   Ray florets.—Ray floret development has not been observed.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate. Length: About            4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per            inflorescence: About 35. Color, immature and mature: Apex:            Close to 155A. Mid-section and base: Close to 148C.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 30 arranged in            about five to six whorls. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About            2 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 61C;            towards the apex, close to 61B. Color, mature, upper            surface: Close to 155D. Color, mature, lower surface: Close            to 62C; with development, color becomes closer to 155D            tinted with 62D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 cm to 1.7 cm. Diameter: About            1 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 45°.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 148C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per disc floret:            Five. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 1.5 mm.            Anther color: Close to 155A. Filament length: About 2 mm.            Filament color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 155A. Gynoecium: Quantity per disc floret:            One. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted.            Stigma color: Close to 155A. Style length: About 1.5 mm.            Style color: Close to 155A. Ovary color: Close to 148C.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Ozothamnus have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ozothamnus.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Ozothamnus have exhibited good    tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate    temperatures from about −5° C. to about 40° C.

1. A new and distinct Ozothamnus plant named ‘40-24’ as illustrated anddescribed.